Just A Substitute: The Wife He Failed

ie

l read 2:00 AM when

elf on absolute control. But tonight, he stumbled through the

the couch in th

pped dead in his tracks. He

" he wh

l blow. I sat perfectly still,

ordinated. He dropped to his knees in fr

into the fabric of my dress. "

push him away, but my han

ce was barely a whispe

, a bitter, broken sound. "The

hol and tears. He reached up and cupped my face. He didn'

n't you. Every time I touch her, I wish it was you. Ever

harp, so visceral, it felt like my hea

love her?

She is a tool. A way to stay close to

s forehead a

right? You are back

d slumped against my

The weight of his head on m

He rolled onto the floor

legs were sha

chair. His phone was in the pocket. The screen was

recording of a conversa

ngry. "Why did you promise

your father forbade me from seeing you, but he trusted me with his chari

ording

ck, Marcus,

Florence just to watch you from a distance. I s

ed. "Does she know she

money, I give her a home. She is a good little mimic. When she pa

heavy silenc

nt, Marcus,"

shattering echoed t

ed. His voice was filled

es

Marcus said. "Like we

e

med the life growing inside me yet. I

came through th

t Ellie?"

der. She won't know. And even if she finds out, she wo

cordin

ssed out on my rug. Th

t. I had no

wrong about

lder. I was a pers

d until my stomach was empty. The

pale, gaunt, eyes rimmed with red. But there was s

e living room. I step

from a billboard weeks ago-a number I had stared at, never admit

yer answered. "I need to fil

ung

e city. It painted the sky in shades

st essentials. No clothe

e apartment complex I lived in before Marcus too

"I heard you were b

the phon

aid. "Can yo

are you

said. "Just aw

last time. He mumbled C

and didn't close it